Study: Healthy food cheaper than junk food

Posted by IronPlanet on May 17, 2012 8:58:00 PM

Although many farmers have opted to go organic in recent years, healthy eating has not yet been fully adopted by all Americans. One of the key criticisms of organic farming is that the food costs too much compared to processed meals. A recent study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) disproved that notion, revealing that eating healthy is actually more affordable than buying junk food.

The results of the study are in direct contradiction to a 2010 study by the University of Washington, which found that processed foods were often much cheaper than those grown on farms. That study compared food prices based on the caloric intake of the food.

The USDA looked at things in a different way, according to The Associated Press. The government agency measured food intake not based on calories, but instead on the overall weight of the food. When studied in this manner, it turns out it's much cheaper to buy a pound of bananas than say, ice cream - even if the ice cream has more calories.

"Using price per calorie doesn't tell you how much food you're going to get or how full you are going to feel," Andrea Carlson, scientist at the USDA’s Economic Research Service and an author of the study, told the news source.

Adam Drewnowski, lead author of the 2010 study, disagrees with that notion. Drewnowski says calories are what ultimately leads people to feel full, and thus explains why many consumers on a budget choose food that is not healthy.

"Some of these calories are in fact empty calories, so from the standpoint of nutrition they are not terrific," Drewnowski told the news source. "But the empty calories keep you from being hungry, and this is why people buy them, especially lower-income people."

While price may still be an issue for some consumers, there's no doubt organic farming has become more popular in the past few years. Farmers looking to grow organically will still need to use agricultural equipment to get the job done. The online auction site IronPlanet offers a wide array of equipment at affordable prices, helping farmers keep costs down while staying on top of demand.

Topics: Industry Headlines